St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-02-23
THE TEXAS INQUIRY.
Judge Kirk Testifies to the Receipt
OF Threatening Letters and the
Intimidation OF Negro Democrats.

va LStecTS ana the
Intimidation OF Negro Democrats.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Judge Lafay-
cite Kirk, county judge of Washington
county, Tex. was examined by the Texas
committee to-day. Judge Kirk has acted
since the investigation began as one of the
counsel for the Democratic side, and the
course of previous testimony has served to
put him in the position of chief defendant
in the case. 1t was he who is charged with
having visited Flewellyn precinct, where
the votes were being counted, about half
hour before the raiders entered, on which
occasion Devices Bolton was killed, and it
was he who, in the indignation meeting at
Brenham, introduced the resolution reuIiir-
ing certain Republicans to cease a certain
line of conduct or leave the country.
He was examined by Senator
Spooner, and the colloquies were
at times very spirited. Judge
Kirk, in reply to inquiries said he presided,
as it was his official duty to do. over the
canvass of the votes. The supreme court
of the state had decided some months previ-
ously that the diamond-shaped tickets
(many of which were thrown out in Wash
ington county at the last election) were
valid, and copies of the decisions of the
court were furnished him. AS matter of
fact. however, no occasion had arisen
within his jurisdlcti involving the ques-
ton in point, and he had
NEVER READ THE DECISION
of the supreme court. Judge Kirk described
his visit to Chapel Hill and Flewellyn's
polling place. having left Brenham about
in the afternoon and ridden thirty miles on
horseback that night to see how things were
going. These were strong Republican
precincts, but he had reason to believe he
would receive considerable negro vote
there. There was telephone communica-
tion between Brennan and Chapel Hill, but
he did not avail himself of it. Witness was
asked with regard to the kilograms
he sent OH election day. He admitted that
he caused one to be sent, and then remem-
bered that he had also sent one himself.
This was addressed to D. D. Bolton, father
of Dewes Bolton, who was killed at
Flewellyns. d. d. Bolton was a fellow
candidate on the peoples ticket with Judge
Kirk. To the best of witness recollection
his telegram was to the effect i'that things
looked bad"-at Brenham. He would not
swear thet was all, but to the best of his
knowledge and belief it was. He did not
remember that the words ''do your work.
were added. To the very best of his recol-
lection they were not. The examination
upon this point became very earnest and
Senator Spooner's questions were put with
great rapidity and in every conceivable form
to elicit a positive declaration one way or
the other Witness finally said Y
HE WAS NOT POSITIVE S
that he did not send such telegram.
Mr.. Spooner with severity)-Are5 you
willing to have those kilograms produced
before this committee?
WitnesS-l have no objection to having
them produced, If the committee has them
Mr.. Spooner (pacng before witness a
pack of paper)-Well, sir, have you any
objection to writing an order to the Western
Union Telegraph company to deliver up
those kilograms?
WitnesS-I think the committee can write
that note. if they want to do it.
You are not anxious then to get
Senator Eustis Qnterrupting)-I would
certainly not advise the witness to do it.
Witness-The committee has process, and
Gun
Mr. Spooner-We will take care of that
branch OF the case.
In respect to the citizens meeting at
Brennan, witness described his action. He
was called on several times to speak, and
did speak, declaring in substance that if
certain men, naming Hockworth, Moore
Glider, Potter, Lockett and Schuetze, did
not cease their course of action, commit
tee should be formed to visit them and re-
quest them to leave the country. Their
course had been designed to arouse the
passions and prejudiceS of the cOlored
people against the whites. Witness had
declared himself in favor of
ARMING THE NEGROES
to shoot white men at the ballot box.
Potter had since disavowed this, but wit
ness did not know it at the time. He only
knew Bolton had been killed. The others
were offensive in their speeches-or rather
not so much in their speeches as in the
fact that they were in the habit of applaud
ing what the negroes said in their
own speeches. Descending to particulars,
in reply to questions, witness cited the case
Of colOred man who said to his fellows:
You can't eat with the whites: why do
you want to vote with them?" This had
been laughed at and applauded to the echo
by some of the white Republicans named.
Witness had been lied about at these meet
ings, and often denied the privilege of
meeting the false charges on the spot. The
meetings were called by negroes, but wit
ness thought they had no right to make
false statements about him and deny him a
right to be heard in reply. At one meeting
he told the white Republicans that he was
determined to be heard if he remained there
week. AS consequence the leaders took
the band and marched their meeting to an
other place, while Kirk addressed those
who remained to listen. The peoples ticket
was formed because since the days of recon-
struction the taxes have been excessive and
the defalcations of Republican officials
large. The white leaders attempted to
INTIMIDATE THE NEGROES
into voting the Republican ticket, and
brought social influences to bear upon those
whowanted to support the peoples ticket.
No grand jury had been in session since the
hanging Of the negroes and none would be
till March. r. P. Hackworth. brother of
the principal menorialist and the Republi-
can justice Of the peace who held the IN
quest over the dead bodies of the hanged
negroes, had full power to investigate their
hanging, and as much right to summon wit
nesses and inquire into the case as the
county judge or grand jury. There was a
general belief among the white people that
the negroes had been advised to 60 armed
to the polls. .and that Ed Lockett and Glider
had given that advice. As soon as it was
known that Bolton was killed these two
men disappeared and could not be found.
There was process out for them. Excite
ment prevailed on account Of the reports
Continued ON Fourth Page.